Here's one sports question begging to become a game-show stumper: What three organizations received the "Outstanding Baseball Facility" commendation recently awarded by the national Sports Turf Manager's Association in Vero Beach, Florida?

The answer: the Philadelphia Phillies, Townsend State University, and . . . the Waukegan Park District's Al Grosche Field.

That's right! Al Grosche Field.

No person was more surpised about the selection of Grosche Field to the nation's top-spot than Waukegan Park District's Superintendent of Parks, Greg Petry.

"You bet it's a surprise, We're keeping some pretty good company," Petry said after returning from the Los Angeles Dodgers' spring training facility where he accepted the award. The Dodgers hold spring training in Vero Beach, a.k.a. Dodgertown.

Each year the Sports Turf Manager's Association selects the nation's number-one baseball facility in three major categories: professional, collegiate, and municipal. After hosting 101 games in 1988 and receiving kudos from little leaguers to professional athletes and grounds personnel, Grosche Field received the association's nod for "excellence and professionalism in maintaining the nation's most outstanding park baseball diamond." Ground Superintendent of Milwaukee County Stadium, home of the American League Milwaukee Brewers, Harry Gill, had a chance to size-up Grosche Field personally.

Congratulations to Waukegan Park District for recently receiving the Sports Turf Manager's Association's "1989 Outstanding Baseball Facility" commendation.

"The bluegrass-ryegrass turf is like a Karastan carpet," said Gill. He also said the athletic turf and playing surface at Grosche Field is about the best he has ever seen whether it be a professional stadium or a park site.

For Petry and his staff, the award culminates many hours of hard work.

"When you have the high school league, youth leagues, major tournaments, and professional tryouts, it can get quite difficult keeping the facility in top form," said Petry. "Grosche is well-groomed and manicured because we put in time and effort. Athletics are a big park of Waukegan and we're glad the Park District has made the Grosche Field commitment."

The Waukegan Park District committed to a quality baseball facility in 1980. Capital improvement funds were used to renovate the Grosche site. As a result, Grosche Field now touts all the features of a professional facility: dugouts, perimeter fencing, bull pens, batting cages, press facilities, raised bleachers, and an underground irrigation system.

The President of the Waukegan Park District Board of Commissioners, Ralph Bufano, said the Park District is extremely proud to be recognized for Grosche Field and its commitment to the community.

"The staff and workers of the Waukegan Park District are to be commended on all the well-kept outdoor recreational facilities in the District," said Bufano. "With pride we recommended our programs to everyone of all ages. It is our people who work in the District who make it what it is."

And to make Grosche Field what it is, Petry's staff follow a year-round regimen that covers everything from game-day preparations to off-season field treatments.

"Caring for Grosche Field requires TBAmwork on a year-round basis," said Petry. "To us, this award not only signifies we have given the community a tremendous baseball facility, but that we have worked together as a TBAm to make it the nation's best."

Sharon Carroll and Scott Smith have been named to Recreation Supervisor positions at the Hanover Park Park District.

Sharon Carroll received her Bachelor's degree in Home Economics from Illinois State University at Bloomington Normal. She is a former preschool education instructor for the Hanover Park Park District.

Scott Smith received his Bachelor's degree in Recreation Administration from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. Recently he completed a 16-week internship at the Rolling Meadows Park District.

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Month/Topic	Sponsor/Section	Date
March
Aquatics Workshop	Facility Management	March 3-8
Commissioners Workshop	IAPD	March (TBA)
Metro TR	Therapeutic Recreation	March 10
Maintenance Workshop	South Suburban Park and Recreation Professional Assoc.	March 21
Legal Trends-Hiring/Firing	North Shore Round Table	March 23
April
Midwest Symposium	Therapeutic Recreation	April 30-May 2
(Topic to be announced)	IAPD/IPRA	April (TBA)
Legislative Conference	IAPD	April 19
Risk Management	Park District Risk Management
	Association	April 20, 21
Preschool Administrative Workshop	Recreation	April 5
Time Management	Recreation	April 7
Senior Citizen Workshop	Recreation	April 14
May
Commissioners Training	IAPD	May 20
Front Desk Management	Facility Management	May (TBA)
June
Maintenance Management Systems	Parks & Natural Resource	June (TBA)
	Management
Northern Region Workshop	Therapeutic Recreation	June 8, 9
Aquatics Chlorine Workshop	Facility Management	June (TBA)
July
Legislator/Commissioner Golf Outing	IAPD/IPRA	July 21
Senior Olympics	Recreation	July 26-28
August
Fitness Center Operation	Facility Management	August (TBA)
Special Events	Recreation	August 25
September
Mid Year Forum	IPRA	Sept. 17-19
Campground Maintenance	Parks & Natural Resource	Sept. (TBA)
	Management
Legislative Tailgate	IAPD/IPRA	Sept. (TBA)
Maintenance for Special Facilities	Facility Management	Sept. (TBA)
Dance/Arts Instructor Workshop	Recreation	Sept. (TBA)
Park Law Enforcement	Parks & Natural Resource	Sept. (TBA)
	Management
October
Sports Forum	Recreation	October 20
Legal Symposium	IAPD	October 13
Concepts in Fitness	Recreation	October 7
Preschool Trends	Recreation	October 7
Urban Forestry Issues	Parks & Natural Resource	October (TBA)
	Management
November
Professional Development School	Administration/Finance	November 12
Park Management Institute	Parks & Natural Resource	Nov. (TBA)
	Management
Public Relations	Recreation	Nov. (TBA)
December
Commissioners Workshop	IAPD	Dec. (TBA)
ITRS Professional Development School	Therapeutic Recreation	Dec. (TBA)
January, 1990
IPR Annual State Conference	IAPD/IPRA	Jan. 18-20
Pre-Conference Workshop: Personnel	Recreation	Jan. 18
Management/Recruitment
Pre-Conference Workshop: Creating	Facility Management	Jan. 18
Distinctive Services
February, 1990
Metro TR	Therapeutic Recreation	Feb. (TBA)
Concepts in Fitness	Recreation	Feb. 3
Additional information about events sponsored by IPRA, its sections or its affiliates is available from the Illinois Park and Recreation Association, 500 South Plum Grove Road, Palatine, IL 60067. Phone (312) 991 2820. Contact the Illinois Association of Park Districts, 211 E. Monroe St., Springfield, IL 62701, for information about IAPD-sponsored events. Phone (217) 523 4554.

People, Places & Things (Continued) ————————————————————————

If you haven't visited an Illinois state park lately, you have a surprise coming. There are now seven refurbished or new lodges open for the 1989 season. A park improvement campaign launched in 1984, funded by the $100 million Park and Conservation Fund expansion and renovation program and Governor James R. Thompson's Build Illinois Program, provided the means to improve and enhance Illinois' state parks. The results of those programs are now open and available for everyone to see and experience.

"Illinois has combined history, natural resources and first-class accommodations to package a good experience in one of the country's most modern lodge systems," said March Frech, Director of the Department of Conservation. "We're proud of what we have accomplished, but this is just the beginning. Several additional scenic areas around the state have been targeted for new lodges and resorts, which currently are in the planning stage." Three lodges have been completely refurbished, including Pere Marquette, overlooking the Illinois River near Grafton in Jersey County; Giant City, in the scenic Shawnee Hills of Jackson County; and Starved Rock, amidst the Illinois River canyons in LaSalle County. "These three lodges were originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s," Director Frech pointed out. "While we have upgraded them, we have preserved both their natural and historic beauty." Pere Marquette and Starved Rock now include indoor swimming pools, while Giant City now features a sheltered outdoor pool. All have exercise rooms, whirlpools and saunas. Huge fireplaces are the center of attraction in the lobby of each (Continued on next page)

Pere Marquette State Park represents one of the jewels in the Illinois park system. The park's centerpiece is the massive lodge and adjacent guesthouses, recently restored over a two year period at a cost of approximately $11,000,000 by the Illinois Department of Conservation. Originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, the lodge has a distinctive flavor of native stone and rustic rough-hewn timbers, replete with a 700-ton fireplace. (Photos courtesy of Illinois Department of Conservation.)

W. L. "Les" McCullough, 1966-67 IAPD president and founder of the Fox Valley Park District, died February 13, 1989, at the age of 86. He served as Board President of the District for 33 years.

McCullough was one of the first in the state to consolidate city and park district recreational programming. He also helped develop the concept of a park/school agreement, making Aurora an early participant in this tax saving cooperative effort.

W. L. "Les" McCullough President, Fox Valley Park District

He served on Governor Stratton's committee for the development of the Fox River from McHenry to the Illinois River, and on the Air and Water Pollution Bureau under Governor Otto Kerner. Additional service included board membership on the Regional Transportation Authority, past presidency of the Greater Aurora Chamber of Commerce, Aurora Planning Commission, Aurora Foundation, and being named "Man of the Year" by the Cosmopolitan Club. Memorials may be made to the Fox Valley Park District Foundation, P.O. Box 818, 712 S. River St., Aurora, Illinois 60507-0818.

of the lodges. The original furniture has been restored and is once again in use. Refurbishing of Giant City and Pere Marquette lodges is complete and the lodges are open for business. Work on the lodge at Starved Rock State Park will be complete soon, and it will open for business in mid-April.

Located along the shoreline of Lake Michigan near Zion, Illinois Beach Resort and Hotel has been partially refurbished, and is building a reputation for the excellent food and services it offers. The lodge's management, the Balaco family, hails from southern Illinois and is proud that they have brought "Southern hospitality" to northern Illinois. "Illinois Beach offers good food, friendly service and the only 'ocean view' in Illinois," said General Manager Lotteo Balaco. "One need only experience a Lake Michigan sunrise and a walk along the beach to truly appreciate this area."

Just up the road from Illinois Beach is the new North Point Marina, which will open this spring. With nearly 600 slips available during its first year and up to 1,500 slips when complete, this full service marina has been designed and constructed to assure the marina's security under all possible Lake Michigan wind and wave conditions. It features an intricately planned road system and park-like separations between private moorings and public access areas. When completed, North Point will be one of the largest floating dock marinas in the United States.

The new Clarion Inn at Eagle Creek Resort and Conference Center, located on Lake Shelbyville in Central Illinois, will become one of the Midwest's premier vacation spots. The main hotel has 130 luxurious rooms, 10 large executive suites with fireplaces, two restaurants and a cocktail lounge, indoor swimming pool, whirlpool, sauna and exercise facility. Eagle Creek has all the comforts one would expect to find at a facility of this magnitude, plus an 18-hole championship golf course. The Eagle Creek facility will be opened to the public in mid-May.

Developer Ed Forester has also incorporated something totally new to resort facilities into this site — a conference retreat. In addition to the 4,800 square-foot conference room in the main hotel, this separate conference pool houses a central conference room, kitchen, fireplace, balcony and patio, plus eight double hotel rooms.

(Continued on next page)

People, Places & Things (Continued) ————————————————————————

The conference retreat is experimental, but Forester said he envisions the pod becoming a very popular part of this facility. "We'd like to experience growth through this type of building," Forester said. "If it works out, we can easily duplicate this in the woods with four to 16 rooms." White Pines State Park, near Rockford in northern Illinois, offers a different kind of experience. Secluded and cozy, this state park offers a newly renovated restaurant and guest cabins. The park itself is best known for its magnificent stand of white pine trees, scenic rocks and streams. A new concessionaire is expected to be named to manage this facility by the end of February and the facility will re-open to the public in mid-April.

Another of Illinois' smaller facilities is located at Cave-in-Rock State Park, near Elizabethtown in southeastern Illinois' Hardin County. Nestled on a bluff overlooking the scenic Ohio River and named for the historic cave located there, this state park offers newly constructed duplex cabins, a restaurant and a great deal of folklore. The restaurant prides itself on the southern style of cooking offered up each day.

Just down the road from Cave-in-Rock is the new Golconda Marina, which has opened up Smithland Pool to outdoor recreationalists in Illinois. The marina is the only full-service facility on this 72-mile section of the Ohio River, and it offers picnic supplies, a snack bar, boat slip rental, fuel docks, short term dry storage space, as well as boat repair and service facilities with lifts.

Golf, tennis, fishing, hiking, hunting and boating are just a few of the activities park goers can experience while staying at one of Illinois' state park lodges. "We're inviting everyone to try our lodges for their vacation or weekend trip this year," Director Frech said. "I think they'll be pleasantly surprised at what Illinois state park lodges have to offer, and pleased that they took our advice."